The Effectiveness of Mediterranean Diet in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Clinical Course: An Intervention Study

Andriana C. Kaliora,Aristea Gioxari,Ioanna Panagiota Kalafati,Anastasia Diolintzi,Alexandros Kokkinos,George V. Dedoussis 한국식품영양과학회 2019 Journal of medicinal food Vol.22 No.7

Diet is a modifiable key factor targeted in prevention and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim was to study the effect of Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) on clinical, biochemical, and inflammatory profile in NAFLD patients with simple steatosis. Potential associations of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) rs2293152 genotype to diet composition and patients' profile were investigated. In this nonrandomized, open-label, 24-week prospective intervention study, 44 untreated NAFLD patients with nonsignificant fibrosis received nutritional counsel to increase adherence to MedDiet. Adherence to MedDiet was estimated with MedDietScore. Furthermore, we genotyped STAT3 rs2293152 single nucleotide polymorphism and performed clinical and inflammatory measurements. In all patients, MedDietScore increased and anthropometric indices improved, whereas liver imaging, liver fibrosis score, blood pressure, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), visfatin, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels were also significantly ameliorated compared with baseline (P < .05). No association of STAT3 polymorphism with diet composition was found. Comparisons of mean differences between G- and C-carriers at the end point of the trial showed that only visfatin was significantly associated with the STAT3 genotype (−0.0 ± 4.6 vs. −4.2 ± 3.9, P = .04, respectively). Carrying the G-allele was associated with an increase of the visfatin levels (3.4 ± 1.5 ng/mL, P = .028). Our results show amelioration of clinical, biochemical, and inflammatory biomarkers in NAFLD patients in response to MedDiet. STAT3 rs2293152 G-carriers experienced more beneficial changes at the end of the intervention compared with baseline. An association between visfatin levels and STAT3 genotype has been shown for the first time.

Pistacia lentiscus Resin Regulates Intestinal Damage and Inflammation in Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid–Induced Colitis

Aristea Gioxari,Andriana C. Kaliora,Apostolos Papalois,George Agrogiannis,John K. Triantafillidis,Nikolaos K. Andrikopoulos 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.11

Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) of the Anacardiaceae family has exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in patients with Crohn's disease. This study was based on the hypothesis that mastic inhibits intestinal damage in inflammatory bowel disease, regulating inflammation and oxidative stress in intestinal epithelium. Four different dosages of P. lentiscus powder in the form of powder were administered orally to trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid–induced colitic rats. Eighty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups: A, control; B, colitic; C–F, colitic rats daily supplemented with P. lentiscus powder at (C) 50 mg/kg, (D) 100 mg/kg, (E) 200 mg/kg, and (F) 300 mg/kg of body weight; and G, colitic rats treated daily with cortisone (25 μg/kg of body weight). Colonic damage was assessed microscopically. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 and malonaldehyde were measured in colonic specimens. Results were expressed as mean±SE values. Histological amelioration of colitis (P≤.001) and significant differences in colonic indices occurred after 3 days of treatment. Daily administration of 100 mg of P. lentiscus powder/kg of body weight decreased all inflammatory cytokines (P≤.05), whereas 50 mg of P. lentiscus powder/kg of body weight and cortisone treatment reduced only ICAM-1 (P≤.05 and P≤.01, respectively). Malonaldehyde was significantly suppressed in all treated groups (P≤.01). IL-10 remained unchanged. Cytokines and malonaldehyde remained unaltered after 6 days of treatment. Thus P. lentiscus powder could possibly have a therapeutic role in Crohn's disease, regulating oxidant/antioxidant balance and modulating inflammation.

Antioxidant Properties of Raisins (Vitis vinifera L.)

Andriana C. Kaliora,Aggeliki M. Kountouri,Vaios T. Karathanos 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.6

Currants and sultanas (Vitis vinifera L., Family Vitaceae) are dried vine products produced in Greece and used widely in the Mediterranean diet. We investigated the polar methanol extracts from the raisins for the antiradical activity, polyphenol content, cytotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, total glutathione (GSH) levels, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, and inhibition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Extracts exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity and inhibited tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced cytotoxicity, GSH decrease, and LDL oxidation. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the characteristic apoptotic patterns with tBHP and inhibition with the extracts. Elevated levels of total GSH and unaltered levels of GSSG with extract treatment demonstrated the induction of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase. The antioxidant activity was correlated to the polyphenolic content. Greek currants and sultanas are suggested as antioxidant components of the Mediterranean basin.

Regulation of GIP and Ghrelin in Healthy Subjects Fed on Sun-Dried Raisins: A Pilot Study with a Crossover Trial Design

Andriana C. Kaliora,Panagiotis T. Kanellos,Aristea Gioxari,Vaios T. Karathanos 한국식품영양과학회 2017 Journal of medicinal food Vol.20 No.3

The comparative effects of glucose and fructose on appetite and specifically on hormones regulating appetite remain controversial, and the role of different types of sugars has not been investigated broadly. To estimate the effect of raisins, a dried fruit rich in fructose, fibers, and phenolics, on hormones involved in the postprandial response. Ten healthy normal-weight subjects received in a crossover design 74 g raisins or 50 g glucose as reference food. Glucose, insulin, and appetite hormones were measured at time 0 and 60, 120, and 180 min after consumption. Glucose and insulin peaked significantly at 60 min in both trials with no difference in two trials. Gastric inhibitory peptide peaked significantly at 60 min in both trials and was found lower in raisin compared to glucose at 60 and 120 min postprandially. Ghrelin was lower in raisin compared to glucose at 120 and at 180 min postingestion. Ghrelin/obestatin ratio was lower at 120 min in raisin compared to glucose. No differences were reported for glucagon-like peptide-1, apelin, and obestatin in either trial. Raisin consumption could be favorable in terms of regulating appetite compared to refined sugars or glucose-based products in normal-weight healthy subjects.

Inhibitory Activity of Minor Polyphenolic and Nonpolyphenolic Constituents of Olive Oil Against In Vitro Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation

Nikolaos K. Andrikopoulos,Andriana C. Kaliora,Andreana N. Assimopoulou,Vassilios P. Papageorgiou 한국식품영양과학회 2002 Journal of medicinal food Vol.5 No.1

The minor polyphenolic and nonpolyphenolic constituents of olive oil were examined, in var-ious doses, against copper ion induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and werefound, in optimal doses (final concentration, 10 mM or 20 mM), to have remarkable biologi-cal activity, contributing to that previously reported for the major phenolic compounds. Themain phytosterols, b-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, were found to have 43.8%,37.3%, and 3.4% LDL mean protection (MP) activity, respectively, while free cholesterol ex-hibited 43.2% MP. The triterpenoid derivative compounds, ursolic acid, uvaol, and oleanolicacid, had similar MP activities of 50.5%, 46.8%, and 46.0%, respectively. Tocopherol (Toc) iso-mers exhibited an increasing effect in the following order: a-Toc (33.6%) , b-Toc (36.1%) ,g-Toc (42.9%) , d-Toc (46.0%). The flavonoid polyphenols, quercetin, luteolin, and rutin, ex-hibited the highest activities 46.8%, 49.5%, and 53.7% MP, respectively, comparable to the49.0% MP activity found for oleuropein. These findings indicate the relative independenceof LDL protection activity in regard to structural differences among the involved compounds.A relation to the Mediterranean diet is also demonstrated.

Chios Mastic Fractions in Experimental Colitis: Implication of the Nuclear Factor κB Pathway in Cultured HT29 Cells

Apostolos Papalois,Aristea Gioxari,Andriana C. Kaliora,Aikaterini Lymperopoulou,George Agrogiannis,Efstathia Papada,Nikolaos K. Andrikopoulos 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.11

The Pistacia lentiscus tree gives a resinous exudate called Chios mastic (CM) rich in triterpenoids. CM can be fractionated into acidic and neutral fractions (AF and NF, respectively). Oleanolic acid (OA) is a major triterpenic acid in CM with several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We have recently shown that CM is beneficial in experimental colitis in the form of powder mixture with inulin, as supplied commercially. However, the bioactive fraction or compound of CM is unidentified. Thus, based on the hypothesis that terpenoids exhibit functional activities via distinguishable pathways, we fractionated CM and applied different fractions or individual OA in experimental colitis. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanism underlying this effect in human colon epithelial cells. CM powder mixture (100 mg/kg of body weight) or the respective CM powder mixture components (i.e., inulin, AF, NF, or OA) were individually administered in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-treated rats. Colonic damage was assessed microscopically, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1were measured. A model of inflammation in co-cultured human colon epithelial HT29 cells and monocytes/macrophages was established. Lactate dehydrogenase release and levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 were measured. In vivo, histological amelioration of colitis and significant regulation in inflammation occurred with CM powder mixture, even at the mRNA level. Although no histological improvement was observed, AF and NF reduced levels of inflammatory markers. Inulin was ineffective. In vitro, CM treatment down-regulated IL-8 and NF-κB p65. Neither fractions nor OA was the bioactive component solely. Most probably, the entire CM rather than its individual fractions reduces inflammation via NF-κB regulation.